Columbus general manager Scott Howson wants either Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier or one of the young centers with several other pieces, according to Pannaccio.

Rick Nash has a huge contract and declining numbers. (AP Photo)

That's not surprising; Howson's reported asking price for the former 40-goal scorer has been borderline irrational, and expecting both of those players in return would qualify. Nash, 28, carries a $7.8 million cap hit through 2018 and has seen his goal totals decline in each of the past three seasons, going from 40 to 33 to 32 to 30.

Plus, the Flyers acquired Schenn's brother Luke last week from the Toronto Maple Leafs. That deal, interestingly enough, cost them James van Riemsdyk—who likely would've been a major component of a Nash-to-Philly deal.

Couturier, meanwhile, had 27 points as an 18-year-old last season and has the makings of a shutdown defensive center. Philadelphia drafted him with the 2011 first-round pick it acquired from the Blue Jackets in the Jeff Carter trade. Carter lasted about a half season in Columbus before Howson flipped him to the Kings for a first-round pick and defenseman Jack Johnson.

In short, it's tough to imagine the Flyers trading either Schenn or Couturier—though it should be noted the Flyers GM Paul Holmgren has made a habit of trading players shortly after they sign long-term contracts and gave Ilya Bryzgalov nine years and $51 million.

Another possibility is that the Blue Jackets are attempting to use the talks to leverage the New York Rangers, who have been on the receiving end of Howson's greatest hits, including a trade-deadline demand revolving around Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh.

New York, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, will not include Kreider, McDonagh or Derek Stepan in any Nash deal—even, apparently, if it meant keeping him away from a division rival.